1940s, Washington DC. Government girl Louise is blackmailed into investigating the suspicious death of a missing co-worker, with sinister consequences 1940s, Washington DC. GovernmentGirl Louise Pearlie is asked to review the file usage of a missing analyst fromthe Office of Strategic Services - the US's wartime intelligence agency - onlyto learn he'd drowned in the Tidal Basin days before. OSS confirm it was anaccident, and Louise is sent back to her regular job in the file rooms. Her time spentinvestigating Paul Hughes at least has one positive outcome, though: Louisemeets a young woman in the OSS Reading Room, who asks her to join her 'salon',where she is encouraged to talk about controversial issues like racialsegregation and equal pay for women. Socializing with the women helps hercope with her beau Joe Prager's transfer to New York City. But Louise'slife soon takes a dangerous and sinister turn, and she can't help but worry ifshe'll wind up floating in the Tidal Basin herself . . .